A CONCERT of light, classical and popular music entitled ‘Spring Serenade’ is being performed at Tavistock United Reformed Church this Saturday afternoon (March 18).

The concert will be performed by ‘Quorum’ which was formed in 2011 when Janet Macdonald (soprano), Iain McDonald (baritone), Philip Bonser (clarinet) and Margaret Chave (piano) discovered how much they enjoyed making music together. Dorothy Raven joined as an additional pianist and she is regularly joined by her husband Tony for piano duets.

Janet Macdonald started as a junior exhibitioner at Trinity College London which led to a varied career in opera, oratorio and song recitals. Janet’s teachers have included the international mezzo-soprano Claire Powell.

Iain McDonald studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music in the 1970s with the tenor Duncan Robertson. For a number of years he sang in a vocal quartet in London. He organises an annual winter season of chamber concerts at Seaton Town Hall.

Philip Bonser read music at King’s College, London from 1990-1993, studying clarinet with Angela Malsbury at the Royal Academy of Music. Phil continues to teach and play and gives regular concerts with Quorum and the Clyst Valley Choral Society.

Dorothy Raven has been involved with choirs and church music all her life. She trained at The Royal Academy of Music in London and is a graduate of the Royal School of Music where she studied piano, cello and organ. A year at London University led to teaching in secondary schools, particularly choirs and orchestras. She is married to Tony Raven a pianist and organist. 

Margaret Chave teaches piano and singing at her home in Crediton. She has taught in many schools over the years. Margaret also taught at the University of Plymouth. She enjoys accompanying for operatic and choral societies, festivals, master classes and examinations and has been rehearsal pianist for Crediton Opera and Dramatic Society for many years.

The programme includes works by John Rutter, G F Handel, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Johann Kalliwoda, Franz Schubert, Anton Dvorak, Iain McDonald, Gerard Cobb, William Lloyd Webber, Philip Norman and Vivien Ellis.